Car-coupling.



IPATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

J. KAISER. CAR COUPLING.

APPLIOATIOE FILED JULY 8. 1904.

INVENTOR.

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s Patnt No. 797,533.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN KAISER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN W. BARTLE, OFPITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

OAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Yatented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed July 8, 1904. Serial No. 215,750-

To all whorl-t it nut/y concern.-

Beit known thatI, JOHN KAIsER, a resident of Pittsburg, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to car-couplers, and more particularly to the Janney type of coupler, although it may be applied to any hlasterCar-Builders coupler.

The object of my invention is to provide means for throwing the knuckleopen in order to put the coupler into position to automatically lockwith the coupler of another car- Vith couplers heretofore in use it hasbeen JCGSSEIIX after unlocking the knuckle for the 'akenian to seize thesame and throw it out to position fol-coupling. This is adanger- ISoperation and has frequently resulted in as 'of life or limb. The objectof my invenon is to overcome this difficulty and proide a coupler inwhich the knuckle is thrown -.pen sufiiciently far to couple even with a"ocked knuckle on another car and by the nere operation of a lever orother device in such position that the brakeman is not exposed todanger.

The invention comprises, generally stated, s combination, with thecoupler or draw- .ad and knuckle pivoted therein, of mechan- ,m whichwhen the knuckle is unlocked will ,hrow it open into position forautomatically coupling with another coupler, all as hereinafterdescribed and ciaimed.

1n the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the end portionof a car, showing the coupler in top view, the coupler of the adjoiningcar being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 isasection on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on theline 3 3, Fig. 2.. Fig. 4: is a section on the line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5

shows two views of the tumbler; and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6,Fig. 1.

The numeral 2 designates the end portion of a freight-car litted in theordinary manner with any suitable Master Car-Builders coupler. Thecoupler-head 3 is provided with a shank 6, having an opening 7, so thatwhen the shank is inserted in an opening in the draw-bar it can belocked therein by means of the usual coupling pin or hookof the drawbarengaging the hole 7.

The head 3 is provided with the usual horns 8 and 9, as customary, andthe knuckle 4 is pivoted to the horn 9 by means of the pin 5. Theknuckle 4: is provided with a tail 10, which projects back into theusual recess in the head and is adapted to be locked therein by means ofthe vertically-movable pin 12, fitting in openings in the head. The tailof the knuckle is provided at its rear end with a hook-shaped orsegmental arm 11, arranged to project when the knuckle is locked throughan opening in the side of the head. The-forward face of thedrawhead,'the outer 'face of the knuckle, the inner face thereof, andthe end thereof are shown in the drawings as formed on curves which arearcs of circles. This, however, is not an essential of my invention, asthe latter can be adapted to any form of Blaster Car-Builders coupler.

The locking-pin 12 is provided with the reduced extension 13, whichpasses through an opening in the floor of the coupler-head in ordertoguide the pin. The floor of the head is provided with a recess ordepression (not shown) into which the lower end of the body of thelocking-pin fits, so that said pin has a support both at the top andbottom. This locking-pin lies in front of the tail 10 of the knucklewhen the latter is locked: To the lower end of the locking-pin ispivoted a latch 15, which when the coupling-pin is raised will fall intoa vertical position, with its end resting on the floor of thecoupler-head. so that the locking-pin cannot again drop in front of thetail of the knuckle. -\Vhen the knuckle swings open, the latch 15 swingsinto a horizontal position and rides on the segmental arm 11, and thelocking-pin 12 is held up thereby. By this arrangement the brakeman needonly raise the coupling-pin and can then leave the same even though thecars do not immediately pull apart. This avoids the necessity of thebrakemans retaining hold of the uncoupling-lever until the cars pullapart.

In the coupler-head there is formed a seat 16, this seat being locatedat the outer and upper corner of the recess in said head. In this recessis mounted the tumbler 17, which forms the means for throwing theknuckle open. This tumbler is mounted for its entire length in therecess 16 and is backed on its outer and upper sides by the solid metalof the coupler-head. As a consequence it is impossible to bend or breaksaid tumbler. The

tumbler at one end has an extension 17, which projects into a socket 16,formed in the head. In this way the tumbler is held securely in placeand cannot easily drop out. The tumbler 17 has an arm 18, which lies inthe path of a stud or projection 19 on the locking-pin 12,'and also anarm 20, which is adapted to engage the tail 10 of the knuckle and throwthe same open. These two arms project substantially at right angles withreference to each other, and when the knuckle is closed the arm 20 is insubstantially a vertical position behind the tail of the knuckle. henthe locking-pin 12 is lifted, the stud 19 engages the arm 18 of thetumbler and rocks the same to move the arm 20 against the tail of theknuckle to force the latter open, as shown in Fig. 3.

The arm 20 bears against the tail 10 of the knuckle very close to thepivotal point of the latter less than one-fourth the distance from thepivotal axis of the knuckle to the end of its tail, the drawings showingthe same hearing against the tail substantially one-sixth of thisdistance, so that a greater leverage is obtained, and it is possible bya very small additional upward movement of the locking-pin 12 to throwthe knuckle open wide enough for coupling with another coupler which hasits knuckle locked. It is essential that the arm 20 be not forcedagainst the tail 10 of the knuckle until the latter is fully unlocked.The stud 19 on the locking-pin 12 is therefore so located that it willnot contact with the arm 18 of the tumbler until said pin has beenraised to such an extent that the tail of the knuckle is free to swingunderneath the same. For practical reasons the locking-pin can be givenonly a very slight additional upward movement, and this slightadditional upward movement must be sufficient to throw the knuckle wideopen. It is therefore essential that the arm 20 bear against the tail ofthe, knuckle very close to the pivotal point of the latter in order thatthis slight additional upward movement of the locking-pin will throw theknuckle wide open.

The locking-pin 12 may be raised by any suitable means accessible fromthe side or top of the car. In the drawings there is shown for thispurpose a lever 21, fulcrumed at 22 to the cou pler-head and connectedat 23 to the upper end of the locking-pin 12. This lever projects out tosuch a position that it may be readily reached by the brakeman withoutg0- ing in between the cars. By merely raising this lever the knuckle 4is not only unlocked, but is thrown open into the position shown in Fig.3, so that it can automatically couple with another coupler even thoughthe knuckle of the latter be locked.

By my invention the brakeman is not exposed to any danger. He can from aposition of safety operate the lever 21 to lift the locking-pin 12 andto rock the tumbler 17 to throw 16 in the coupler-head for thetumbler.

open the knuckle. Should the car's not at once pull apart, it is notnecessary for the brakeman to retain hold of the uncouplinglever, as thelatch 15 as soon as he has raised the pin will fall into verticalposition, and thus hold said pin elevated and in position for uncouplingWhenever the cars pull apart.

My invention may be applied to dilferent forms of automatic couplerswith practically no change in the present construction thereof, it onlybeing necessary to form the seat can be readily done and withoutweakening the said head. No complicated mechanism is required, and as aconsequence there is little liability of breakage or getting out oforder.

The tumbler is very simple of construction and is so mounted in the headthat it is practically impossible to bend or break the same.

What I claim is a 1. In a car-coupler, the combination with a head, of aknuckle pivoted therein, a tumbler resting for its full length in abearing in said head, an arm at one end of said tumbler adapted toengage said knuckle, an arm on the other end of said tumbler, and alocking-pin having means for engaging said. last-named arm.

2. In a car c0upler, the combination with a head, of a knuckle pivotedtherein, a tumbler comprising a shank resting for its full length in aseat formed in said head and having a projecting end seated in a socketformed in said head, an arm on said tumbler arranged to engage saidknuckle, and means for rocking said tumbler.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination with a head, of a knuckle pivotedtherein, a tumbler comprising a shank resting for its full length in aseat formed in said head, an arm on said tumbler, a locking-pin havingmeans for engaging said arm to rock said tumbler, said tumbler-shankprojecting beyond said arm and entering a socket formed in the head, anda second arm on said tumbler arranged to engage said knuckle.

t. In a car-coupler, the combination with a head provided with a recess,of a knuckle pivoted to said head and having a tail projecting into therecess, locking means for said knuckle, and a knuckle-opener comprisinga tumbler resting in a seat formed in the walls of the head at the upperouter corner of the recess therein, whereby said tumbler is backed forits full length on its top and outer side by a solid wall of metal, saidtumbler being provided with an arm for engaging the knuckle, andactuating means for said tumbler connected to the knuckle-unlockingmeans.

5. In a car-coupler, the combination with a head, of a knuckle pivotedtherein and pro vided with a tail projecting into the head, avertically-movable locking-pin, a latch pivoted to said pin and adaptedwhen the pin is raised to fall into a vertical position and rest This onthe floor of the head, knuckle-opening means, and connectionstherebetween to the locking-pin so arranged that said knuckleopeningmeans is not forced against the knuckle until the pin has been raisedsufficiently far for the latch to assume a vertical position.

6. In a carcoupler, the combination with a head, of a knuckle pivotedtherein and pro-v vided with a tail projecting back into the head, avertically-movable locking-pin, a latch pivoted to said pin and adaptedwhen the pin is raised to fall into a vertical position and rest on thefloor of the head, a segmental arm on the tail of the knuckle on whichthe latch JOHN KAISER.

Witnesses:

ROBT. D. ToTTEN, ROBERT C. TOTTEN.

I It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters PatentNo. 797,583,

granted August 22, 1905, upon the application of John Kaiser, ofPittsburg. Pennsyl- [SEAL] Signed and sealed this 10th day of October,A. 1)., 1905.

I Vania, for an improvement in Car-Couplings, was erroneously writtenand printed John W. Bartl e, whereas the said name should have beenwritten and printed John W'. Barth; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

on the floor of the head, knuckle-opening means, and connectionstherebetween to the locking-pin so arranged that said knuckleopeningmeans is not forced against the knuckle until the pin has been raisedsufficiently far for the latch to assume a vertical position.

6. In a carcoupler, the combination with a head, of a knuckle pivotedtherein and pro-v vided with a tail projecting back into the head, avertically-movable locking-pin, a latch pivoted to said pin and adaptedwhen the pin is raised to fall into a vertical position and rest on thefloor of the head, a segmental arm on the tail of the knuckle on whichthe latch JOHN KAISER.

Witnesses:

ROBT. D. ToTTEN, ROBERT C. TOTTEN.

I It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters PatentNo. 797,583,

granted August 22, 1905, upon the application of John Kaiser, ofPittsburg. Pennsyl- [SEAL] Signed and sealed this 10th day of October,A. 1)., 1905.

I Vania, for an improvement in Car-Couplings, was erroneously writtenand printed John W. Bartl e, whereas the said name should have beenwritten and printed John W'. Barth; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No 797,583,

1905, upon the application of John Kaiser, of Pittsburg. Pennsylwaserroneously written and printed It is hereby granted August 22,

vauiu. for an im rovement in Car-Cou lin s whereas the said name shouldhave been written and printed John \V. Bzlrtle, John W. Barth,- and thatthe said Letters Patent should he read with this correction g thereinthat the same may i Signed and sealed this 10th day of October, A. D.,1905.

conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

[SEAL] F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents.

Correct.

